Varnishing film and method of adjusting the surface gloss of prepress color proof using the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a varnishing film and a method of adjusting the surface gloss of prepress color proof using the same for obtaining a color proof with the surface gloss in the particular areas of image adjusted, comprising the step of forming an image on matt surface having been formed using the varnishing film with an adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparent matting agent and a transparent photosensitive layer provided on a transparent supporter, on the prepress color proof formed by Surprint process. It is possible to form an image with difference in the surface glosses on the prepress color proof formed by Surprint process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a varnishing film to be used foradjusting the surface gloss of prepress color proof. In more detail, itrelates to a varnishing film to be used for forming an image withdifferent glosses in particular areas on the surface of Surprint modeprepress color proof that is used mainly for proofreading operationduring printing plate-making process, and a method of adjusting thesurface gloss of prepress color proof using the same.

So far, there has been a method of forming a pattern on the surface ofprints with resin, resin containing matting agent, etc. (overprintvarnishing) to alter the surface gloss in that treated area, thusenhancing the printing effect, to raise the surface strength and toprevent the blocking (Printing Ink Technology, 413-417, written by E. A.Apps, Leonard Hill Limited, 1961).

On the other hand, so far, for color printing plate-making andproofreading of color printing, the prepress color proof by Surprintprocess using photosensitive transfer sheet that utilizes photosensitiveresin etc. has been used (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos.Sho 60-28649, Sho 61-286857, Sho 62-103636, etc.).

Conventionally, however, there has been no method of performing atreatment equal to the overprint varnishing onto said prepress colorproof by Surprint process. The invention addresses a subject to give anequal effect to overprint varnishing used on printing to prepress colorproof by Surprint process, in particular, a subject to provide a methodof altering the gloss in particular areas of image formed on theprepress color proof by Surprint process, thus enhancing the expressioneffect of prints.

As a result of diligent investigations to solve the subjectaforementioned, the inventors have developed a varnishing filmcharacterized by providing an adhesive transparent resin layercontaining transparent matting agent and a transparent photosensitivelayer on a transparent supporter. With such constitution, when theinventive varnishing film is imagingwise exposed to light and developed,the photosensitive layer in nonexposed areas is removed to expose theadhesive transparent resin layer containing transparent matting agent,resulting in decreased gloss in these areas. Consequently, thedifference in glosses between exposed areas (area with remainingphotosensitive layer) and nonexposed areas becomes significant, leadingto an image excellent in the contrast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a method of adjusting the surface gloss of prepress color proof,wherein, after one separate color image was formed on a photosensitivelayer by imagingwise exposing to light and developing a photosensitivetransfer sheet with an adhesive transparent resin layer peelable offfrom transparent supporter and the photosensitive layer containingcoloring agent layered on a transparent supporter, this is superposed onan image-receiving sheet, transferred under heat and pressure and thetransparent supporter is peeled off, similarly, after other separatecolor image was prepared by similarly imagingwise exposing to light anddeveloping other photosensitive transfer sheet with a photosensitivelayer containing color agent different in color tone, this istransferred under heat and pressure and the transparent supporter ispeeled off, which is repeated by the number of colors required fortransfer, and then the transferred surface of this image-receiving sheetis superposed on a final supporter, transferred under heat and pressureand the image-receiving sheet is peeled off, thereby forming a colorimage on the final supporter, the invention addressed a subject toprovide a method of using a varnishing film with an adhesive transparentresin layer containing transparent matting agent and being peelable offfrom supporter and a transparent photosensitive layer layered on atransparent supporter, thereby affording the same effect as with theoverprint varnishing treatment onto the prepress color proof with colorimage formed on the final supporter.

The method of adjusting the surface gloss so as to become equal tooverprint varnishing on the prepress color proof by Surprint processusing the inventive varnishing film is characterized by performing:

1) a step of forming a transparent high-gloss image on a transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film with an adhesive transparentresin layer containing transparent matting agent and being peelable offfrom supporter and the transparent photosensitive layer layered on atransparent supporter through imagingwise light-exposure anddevelopment,

2) a step of transferring the transparent high-gloss image onto thesurface of adhesive transparent resin layer of image-receiving sheettogether with adhesive transparent resin layer under heat and pressure,and then peeling off the transparent supporter,

3) a step of forming a color image on a photosensitive layer byimagingwise exposing to light and developing a photosensitive transfersheet with an adhesive transparent resin layer peelable off fromtransparent supporter and the photosensitive layer containing coloringagent layered on other transparent supporter,

4) a step of superposing the surface of photosensitive layer ofphotosensitive transfer sheet on the surface of adhesive transparentresin layer of image-receiving sheet having transferred the image formedon the transparent photosensitive layer of said varnishing film,transferring under heat and pressure, and then peeling off thetransparent supporter of photosensitive transfer sheet,

5) a step of repeating imagingwise light-exposure, development, transferand peeling-off of transparent supporter by the number of colorsrequired similarly, with other photosensitive transfer sheets withphotosensitive layers containing coloring agents different in colortones, similarly to the step 4) aforementioned, and

6) a step of superposing the transferred surface of said image-receivingsheet on a final supporter, transferring the image under heat andpressure, and then peeling off the image-receiving sheet. Thereby, atransparent high-gloss image having been formed on the varnishing filmcan be formed on the top surface of final supporter, resulting in aprepress color proof with the surface gloss adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the vanishing film of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of varnishing film with the image formedthrough light-exposure and development.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of photosensitive transfer sheet.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of image-receiving sheet.

FIG. 5 is an illustration diagram showing the step of transferring thehigh-gloss image and the adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent of the varnishing film onto theimage-receiving sheet, and peeling off the transparent supporterthereof.

FIG. 6 is an illustration diagram showing the step of transferring thecolor images and the adhesive transparent resin layers of 4-colorphotosensitive transfer sheets onto the image-receiving sheet one afteranother, and peeling off the transparent supporters thereof.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of color proof with the surface gloss inparticular areas of image adjusted, obtainable by transferring the colorimage and the adhesive transparent resin layer of image-receiving sheetonto the final supporter, and peeling off the transparent supporter ofimage-receiving sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The constitution of said varnishing film to be used in the invention isas shown in FIG. 1. As the transparent supporters thereof, transparentplastic films such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), polypropylene,polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polycarbonate,triacetate and poly(ethylene naphthalate) can be mentioned. Inparticular, biaxially stretched plastic film is preferable, andpoly(ethylene terephthalate) film is excellent in the strength, heatresistance, dimensional stability, transparency, economic aspect, etc.,which is preferable. The thickness of this transparent supporter is notparticularly restricted, but is suitable to be around 50 to 150 μm.

Between the transparent supporter and the adhesive transparent resinlayer containing transparent matting agent of the varnishing film to beused in the invention, a release layer may be provided, if need be. Thisrelease layer is for making peeling-off of the adhesive transparentresin layer containing transparent matting agent from the transparentsupporter easy, and the material for forming release layer is desirableto have a peeling force from the adhesive transparent resin layercontaining transparent matting agent ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 g/25 mm,more preferably, to be peeled off within a range from 2.0 to 4.5 g/25mm. As the resins liable to give the peeling force of this range,urethane resin, melamine resin, silicone resin, copolymers or mixturestherewith and the like are mentioned. Moreover, it is also possible toadjust the peeling force or surface smoothness by adding inorganicpigments such as silica (silicon dioxide), plastic pigments, etc. tothis release layer. The thickness of release layer is not particularlyrestricted, but is desirable to be selected within a range of dry weightfrom 0.5 to 5.0 g/m².

The adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparent mattingagent of the varnishing film to be used in the invention is required tosufficiently adhere to the image formed thereon, to be easily peelableoff from the transparent supporter with release layer provided, if needbe, to sufficiently adhere to the color image and the adhesivetransparent resin layer thereof to be transferred onto other duringtransfer operation under heat and pressure, and to have adequateadhesiveness also to the adhesive transparent resin layer ofimage-receiving sheet. As a resin meeting such objectives, utilizationof pressure-sensitive adhesive or thermosensitive adhesive ispreferable, and, though not particularly restricted, the thermosensitiveadhesive is more preferable from the point of operativities such asregistering. For example, film-forming high-molecular substances asfollows can be mentioned.

Polyacrylic ester and acrylic ester copolymers, polymethacrylic esterand methacrylic ester copolymers, polyacrylamide and acrylamidecopolymers, poly(vinyl acetate) and vinyl acetate copolymers, poly(vinylchloride) and vinyl chloride copolymers, poly(vinylidene chloride) andvinylidene chloride copolymers, polystyrene and styrene copolymers,ethylene copolymers such as ethylene with vinyl acetate, ethylene withacrylic ester, ethylene with vinyl chloride and ethylene with acrylicacid, poly(vinyl acetal) resins such as poly(vinyl butyral) andpoly(vinyl formal), polyester resins, polyamide resins such as nylon andcopolymerized nylon, various rubbers such as synthetic rubber andchlorinated rubber, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene,cellulose derivatives, shellac, and various waxes.

In addition, it is also possible to use mutual blends of thesehigh-molecular substances or mixed systems with other materials such asother high-molecular substances, plasticizers and supercoolingsubstances. Thereamong, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyolefin,polyester, etc. are more effective. Further, more preferably, polyestercan be mentioned from the points of adhesiveness to image, stability oftransfer, transparency, etc.

As the transparent matting agents to be added to the adhesivetransparent resin layer of varnishing film of the invention, inorganicpigments such as silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate, polymers orcopolymers of urethane, acrylic, styrene, methacrylic ester, etc.,organic pigments of finely pulverized fluoro resin, silicone resin,etc., glass powder, and the like are mentioned, but they are notparticularly restricted to these transparent matting agents. The averageparticle diameter of transparent matting agent used is suitable to benot larger than 10 μm, more preferably not larger than 5 μm. Thesetransparent matting agents can be utilized as simple materials ormixtures of several kinds.

The ratio by solids weight of adhesive transparent resin to transparentmatting agent in the adhesive transparent resin layer containing thistransparent matting agent is adjusted according to the request ofsurface gloss, but it comes to differ depending on the thickness ofadhesive transparent resin layer containing said transparent mattingagent, type of pigment used, in particular, particle diameter, specificgravity, etc. Usually, the surface gloss is requested to be not higherthan 70% and more often not higher than 50% (75° surface gloss accordingto JIS-Z-8741), and, within a range capable of obtaining this surfacegloss and satisfiable quality of image to be formed from photosensitivelayer, a ratio of 50:50 to 98:2 is usually selected for saidphotosensitive composition and transparent matting agent.

The coating weight of adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent is not particularly restricted, but it isdesirable to be selected within a range from 0.2 to 5.0 g/m² by dryweight.

The transparent photosensitive layer of varnishing film to be used inthe invention causes a photochemical reaction by actinic rays andcomprises photosensitive composition that forms the image by developingtreatment thereafter.

For this photosensitive composition that causes the photochemicalreaction by actinic rays and forms the image by developing treatmentthereafter, traditionally known photosensitive resin can be utilized,and such one that the image formed exhibits good adhesiveness to saidadhesive transparent resin layer and the image characteristics are goodis selected. As the examples of these, followings can be mentioned.

1. Compositions comprising water-soluble resins such as gelatin, fishglue, arabic gum and poly(vinyl alcohol) and ammonium bichromate,potassium bichromate or ammonium chromate,

2. Compositions comprising photosensitive ferric compounds such asferric ammonium citrate and ferric ammonium oxalate that give ferrousions through exposure to light and water-soluble resins such as gelatin,

3. Compositions comprising water-soluble resins such as gelatin, fishglue, arabic gum, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyacrylamide,carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose and tetrazonium salt ofdiamino compounds such as p-aminodiphenylamine (benzidine), dianisidineand tolidine or diazo resin of p-diazodiphenylamine condensed withparaformaldehyde,

4. Compositions comprising diazo resins of diazo compounds such asp-diazodiphenylamine condensed with paraformaldehyde,

5. Compositions comprising azide compounds such as sodium4,4'-diazidostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate and water-soluble resins such aspolyacrylamide, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone and gelatin,

6. Compositions comprising azide compounds such as 4,4'-diazidostilbeneand 4,4'-diazidocalcon and cyclized rubber,

7. Compositions comprising quinonediazide compounds such asnaphthoquinone-(1,2)-diazidosulfonic ester and alkali-solublephenol-formaldehyde resin,

8. Compositions comprising polymers such as cinnamic ester of poly(vinylalcohol) with cinnamic acid group introduced into molecule andsensitizers such as nitroacenaphthene, 1,2-benzanthraquinone and Michlerketone, and

9. Modified poly(vinyl alcohol) compositions with photosensitive groupssuch as stilbinilium group, stilbazolium group and stilquinolium groupadded to poly(vinyl alcohol).

Moreover, in particular, it is desirable for the transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film of the invention to have lesscoloring in the image formed and excellent transparency so as not tomake the color of color image in the bottom layer turbid at the step offorming image and having transferred it onto final supporter.

The more the coating weight of said transparent photosensitive layer,the higher gloss results usually, magnifying the gloss difference fromthe areas where no image was formed. On the other hand, in the case ofbeing too high, lower sensitivity, decreased image quality, etc. takeplace. The coating weight of photosensitive layer is selected usuallywithin a range from 0.5 to 10.0 g/m² by dry weight, though notparticularly restricted.

Moreover, to the release layer, adhesive transparent resin layercontaining transparent matting agent and transparent photosensitivelayer aforementioned, it is preferable to add additives such as levelingagent and antifoamer that improve the coatability, respectively, if needbe. Furthermore, with respect to the coating of each layer, a coatingmethod that gives higher uniformity is desirable, but the coating methodis not particularly restricted.

Besides, for the light-exposure of varnishing film to be used in theinvention, ultraviolet ray light sources such as xenon arc lamp, carbonarc lamp and ultra high-pressure mercury-vapor lamp are used, andimagingwise light-exposure is usually conducted in an environmentclosely contacted with manuscript under vacuum.

Moreover, for the development of varnishing film to be used in theinvention after exposure to light, developing solution is selected fromtap water, alkaline aqueous solution, organic solvents, etc., matchingthe type of said photosensitive composition to be used forphotosensitive layer.

The varnishing film to be used in the invention is transferred onto theimage-receiving sheet under heat and pressure as shown in FIG. 5, aftersaid imagingwise light-exposure and development as shown in FIG. 2. Uponthis transfer, it is preferable to pass through two rotating rollshaving the, surface of silicone rubber or the like and being heated andpressurized. At this time, the surface temperature of roll is preferableto be 100° C. or lower from the thermal stability of transparentsupporter.

Besides, the constitution of the photosensitive transfer sheet of theinvention is as shown in FIG. 3, and, after imagingwise light-exposureand development of photosensitive transfer sheets with respectivephotosensitive layers different in the color tones of coloring agents,they are transferred in sequence as shown in FIG. 6. Each material andmaterial quality of these photosensitive transfer sheets with adhesivetransparent resin layer peelable off from transparent supporter andphotosensitive layer containing coloring agent layered on thetransparent supporter are not particularly restricted, but, for thetransparent supporter, material of release layer and photosensitivecomposition in the photosensitive layer containing coloring agent, thosesame as for said varnishing film can be used. Also, for the material ofadhesive transparent resin layer, same resin as that of adhesivetransparent resin layer containing transparent matting agent of saidvarnishing film can be utilized.

Further, as the coloring agents in the photosensitive layer, those thatshow the same color tones as printing inks used usually in printingprocess are utilized and, in general, pigments and dyes coinciding withyellow, magenta, cyan and black are used. As the examples, coloringpigments such as Benzidine Yellow, Fast Yellow, Permanent Yellow HR,Lake Red C, Carmine 6B, Permanent Carmine FB, Watch Unbled, PordamineLake B, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue, carbon black and theirmixtures, oil-soluble dyes such as Oil Yellow 5G, Oil Yellow 3G, Oil RedG, Oil Red HRR, Oil Red 5B, Oil Black HB, Zapon Fast Black RE, ZaponFast Black B, Zapon Fast Blue ELE, Zapon Fast Red BE, Zapon Fast Red B,Zapon Fast Red GE, Zapon Fast Yellow G, Zapon Fast Yellow GR and theirmixtures, water-soluble dyes such as Direct Fast Yellow GC, Tartrazine,Rose Bengal, Safranine T, Rhodamine B, Congo Red, Direct Fast Sky Red4BS, Methylene Blue, Soluble Blue Direct, Sky Blue 5B, Acid Cyanine 6B,Victoria Blue B, nigrosine and their mixtures, and the like can bementioned, but, additionally, it is also possible to arbitrarily selectcolors such as blue, red and green requested specially.

Next, the image-receiving sheet to be used in the invention has aconstitution as shown in FIG. 4. With respect to this, usually, a layercomprising an adhesive transparent resin that softens by heat ontransfer operation under heat and pressure to exhibit the adhesivenessis provided on a transparent supporter. It is required for this adhesivetransparent resin layer that softens by heat to temporarily adhere tothe image formed on said varnishing film and the adhesive transparentresin layer containing transparent matting agent coated onto varnishingfilm on transfer operation as shown in FIG. 5, and, thereafter, to allowto peel off both the image formed on said varnishing film and theadhesive transparent resin layer containing transparent matting agentcoated onto varnishing film at the step of having transferred onto thefinal supporter as shown in FIG. 7. As the materials for the adhesivetransparent resin layer capable of achieving these objectives,polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methacrylicacid copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ionomer resin, etc.can be used solely or in combination. The coating weight of thisadhesive transparent resin layer of image-receiving sheet is preferableto be not less than 15 g/m² by dry weight in order to sufficientlyadhere to the image formed on said varnishing film having uneven surfaceon transfer. Moreover, as the transparent supporter thereof, same one asmentioned for said varnishing film can be used.

Besides, as the final supporters to be used in the invention, usually,papers such as coated paper and fine paper used for printing are used,but, additionally, utilization of various plastic films, glass plate,cloth, plastic plate, etc. is possible, which is not particularlyrestricted.

In following, the examples will be shown, but the invention is notconfined to these.

EXAMPLE 1

[Varnishing film]

Onto a 100 μm thick biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate)film,

(release layer liquor)

a release layer liquor comprising:

melamine, acrylic copolymer (Tesfine 322: Hitachi Chemical Polymer Co.,Ltd.) (40% solution) 10 parts

saturated polyester (Thermolack F1: Soken Kagaku Co., Ltd.) (30%solution) 30 parts

vinyl chloride, vinyl propionate copolymer (Reulon Qu-628:

Tosoh Corp.) (40% solution) 20 parts

silica (Mizukasil SK-7: Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals Ltd.) 5 parts

toluene 220 parts

methyl ethyl ketone 120 parts

cyclohexanone 60 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of130° C. to obtain a release layer with dry weight of 2 g/m².

Further, thereonto,

(liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent)

a liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent comprising:

Polyester (Byronal MA-14: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) (30% solution) 20 parts

silica (Mizukasil SK-7: Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals Ltd.) 1 part

isopropyl alcohol 40 parts

water 40 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of120° C. to obtain an adhesive transparent resin layer with dry weight of1.5 g/m².

Further, thereonto,

(transparent photosensitive layer liquor)

a transparent photosensitive layer liquor comprising:

SBQ modified PVA (15% aqueous solution) 100 parts

(introduction rate of stilbazolium group: 1.5 mol %, averagepolymerization degree: 1100, saponification degree: 80)

water 100 parts

isopropyl alcohol 10 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of100° C. to provide a photosensitive layer with dry weight of 2.0 g/m²,thus obtaining a vanishing film.

[Photosensitive transfer sheet]

Onto a 100 μm thick biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate)film, the release layer liquor for said varnishing film was coatedsimilarly, and further,

(adhesive transparent resin layer liquor)

an adhesive transparent resin layer liquor comprising:

polyester (Byronal MA-14: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) (30% solution) 20 parts

isopropyl alcohol 40 parts

water 40 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of120° C. to obtain an adhesive transparent resin layer with dry weight of1.0 g/m².

Thereafter, photosensitive layer liquors containing each coloring agentof four colors in Table 1 were coated with wire bar, respectively, anddried for 1 minute at a temperature of 100° C. to obtain fourphotosensitive transfer sheets of yellow, magenta, cyan and black withphotosensitive layers each containing each coloring agent by dry weightlisted in Table 1.

[Image-receiving sheet]

Onto a 100 μm thick biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate)film,

(primer layer liquor)

a primer layer liquor comprising:

acrylic polyol (Thermolack U-2450: Soken Kagaku Co., Ltd.) (50%solution) 45 parts

isocyanate (Takenate D-110N: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.) (75%solution) 20 parts

silica (Mizukasil SK-7: Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals Ltd.) 5 parts

toluene 100 parts

ethyl acetate 100 parts

ethyl cellosolve 50 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of120° C. to obtain a primer layer with dry weight of 2.0 g/m².

Further, thereonto,

(adhesive transparent resin layer liquor for image-receiving sheet)

an adhesive transparent resin layer liquor for image-receiving sheetcomprising:

ionomer resin (Chemipearl S-100: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.)(25% solution) 50 parts

olefin resin (Chemipearl W-200: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.)(40% solution) 35 parts

water 30 parts

methanol 30 parts

was coatedlusing wire bar and dried for 3 minutes at a temperature of100° C. to provide an adhesive transparent resin layer ofimage-receiving sheet with dry weight of 20.0 g/m², thus obtaining animage-receiving sheet.

Using varnishing film, 4-color photosensitive transfer sheets andimage-receiving sheet thus obtained;

1. The varnishing film was superposed on the manuscript, exposed tolight for 40 seconds at a distance of 1 m with 3 KW ultra high-pressuremercury-vapor lamp, closely contacting under vacuum, and developed usinga sponge while pouring tap water to form a transparent high-gloss imagein exposed areas. This image surface of varnishing film with imageformed was superposed on the surface of adhesive transparent resin layerof image-receiving sheet, passed through rolls having surface ofsilicone rubber heated to 110° C. and pressurized, and then thetransparent supporter of varnishing film was peeled off together withthe release layer thereof.

2. Each 4-color photosensitive transfer sheet was superposed on theseparate color manuscript corresponding to each color, and imagingwiseexposed to light and developed under the same exposure and developmentconditions as those for said varnishing film, however changing only theexposure times to 40 seconds for yellow, 30 seconds-for magenta, 30seconds for cyan and 60 seconds for black to form each image of yellow,magenta, cyan and black. Following this, the black image was superposedon the image-receiving sheet having transferred the image formed on thevarnishing film, transferred under heat and pressure in the sameconditions as for said varnishing film, and the transparent supporterwas peeled off together with the release layer thereof.

Further, similar transfers thereonto in order of cyan, magenta andyellow and peelings-off of the transparent supporters thereof wererepeated.

3. Thereafter, the transferred surface of this image-receiving sheet wassuperposed on a A2 grade coated paper, transferred under heat andpressure in the same conditions as for said varnishing film, and theimage-receiving sheet was peeled off, thereby obtaining a color proofwith the high-gloss image having been formed on the varnishing film,formed on the top surface of coated paper.

The surface glosses of this color proof were 75% in the areas where thehigh-gloss image having been formed on the varnishing film was on thesurface and 40% in the areas where the high-gloss image had not beenformed and the adhesive transparent resin layer appeared on the surface,resulting in the difference in surface glosses of 35%.

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________    (Liquor for photosensitive layer containing coloring agent)                               Yellow                                                                              Magenta                                                                             Cyan  Black                                           __________________________________________________________________________    SBQ modified PVA                                                                          100 parts                                                                           100 parts                                                                           100 parts                                                                           100 parts                                         (15% aq. solution)                                                            Introduction rate of 2.0 1.5 1.5 3.0                                          stilbazolium group (mol %)                                                    Av. polymerization degree 1100 1100 1100 1100                                 Saponification degree 80 80 80 80                                             Pigment dispersion (20% 5 parts 5 parts 5 parts 5 parts                       soln.)                                                                        Pigment Permanent Permanent Phthalocyan- Carbon                                Yellow HR Camine FB ine Blue black                                           Water 100 parts 100 parts 100 parts 100 parts                                 Isopropyl alcohol 10 parts 10 parts 10 parts 10 parts                         Dry weight (g/m.sup.2) 1.7 1.5 1.8 2.0                                      __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 2

Only the liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent of the varnishing film was varied as followsin Example 1, and, for other conditions, all the same materials andconditions as in Example 1 were used.

Namely, for the adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent,

(Liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent)

a liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent comprising:

polyester (Byronal MA-14: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) (30% solution) 20 parts

silica (Aerosil-R972: Japan Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 1.5 parts

isopropyl alcohol 40 parts

water 40 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of120° C. to obtain an adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent with dry weight of 1.0 g/m².

As a result of having fabricated a color proof using the varnishing filmthus obtained, the surface glosses of color proof obtained were 77% inthe areas where the high-gloss image having been formed on thevarnishing film was on the surface and 37% in the areas where thehigh-gloss image had not been formed and the adhesive transparent resinlayer appeared on the surface, resulting in the difference in surfaceglosses of 40%.

EXAMPLE 3

Only the liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent of the varnishing film was varied as followsin Example 1, and, for other conditions, all the same materials andconditions as in Example 1 were used.

Namely, for the adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent,

(Liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent)

a liquor for adhesive transparent resin layer containing transparentmatting agent comprising:

polyester (Byronal MA-14: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) (30% solution) 20 parts

plastic pigment: melamine-formaldehyde condensate (Epostar-S: NipponShokubai Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts

isopropyl alcohol 40 parts

water 40 parts

was coated using wire bar and dried for 1 minute at a temperature of120° C. to obtain an adhesive transparent resin layer containingtransparent matting agent with dry weight of 1.2 g/m².

The surface glosses of color proof thus obtained were 80% in the areaswhere the high-gloss image having been formed on the varnishing film wason the surface and 35% in the areas where the high-gloss image had notbeen formed and the adhesive transparent resin layer appeared on thesurface, resulting in the difference in surface glosses of 45%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Using the 4-color photosensitive transfer sheets and the image-receivingsheet in Example 1;

1. Each 4-color photosensitive transfer sheet was superposed on theseparate color manuscript corresponding to each color, imagingwiseexposed to light at a distance of 1 m with 3 KW ultra high-pressuremercury-vapor lamp, closely contacting under vacuum and making theexposure times 40 seconds for yellow, 30 seconds for magenta, 30 secondsfor cyan and 60 seconds for black, and developed using a sponge whilepouring tap water to form respective images of yellow, magenta, cyan andblack.

2. The black image was superposed on the image-receiving sheet, passedthrough rolls having surface of silicone rubber heated to 110° C. andpressurized, and then the transparent supporter was peeled off togetherwith release layer. Further, similar transfers thereonto in order ofcyan, magenta and yellow and peelings-off of the-transparent supporterswere repeated.

3. Thereafter, the transferred surface of this image-receiving sheet wassuperposed on a A2 grade coated paper, transferred under heat andpressure in the same conditions, and the image-receiving sheet waspeeled off, thereby obtaining a color proof on coated paper.

The surface glosses of this color proof were 75% in the areas whereyellow color image appeared on the surface and 85% in the areas wherethe adhesive transparent resin layer appeared on the surface, but thedifference in the expressions of image due to partial difference ofsurface glosses could not be seen at all.

What is claimed is:
 1. A varnishing film in the method of adjusting thesurface gloss of prepress color proof to obtain the image with surfacegloss adjusted through the treatments of:1) a step of forming an imageon a transparent photosensitive layer of varnishing film with thetransparent photosensitive layer layered via an adhesive transparentresin layer on a transparent supporter through imagingwiselight-exposure and development, 2) a step of superposing the surface ofthe transparent photosensitive layer of varnishing film after saidstep 1) on the surface of an adhesive transparent resin layer ofimage-receiving sheet with the adhesive transparent resin layer providedon a supporter, transferring the image onto the image-receiving sheettogether with adhesive transparent resin layer under heat and pressure,and peeling off the transparent supporter of varnishing film, 3) a stepof forming a color image on a photosensitive layer by imagingwiseexposing to light and developing a photosensitive transfer sheet with anadhesive transparent resin layer peelable off from transparent supporterand the photosensitive layer containing coloring agent layered on othertransparent supporter, 4) a step of superposing the surface ofphotosensitive layer of photosensitive transfer sheet after the step 3)on the surface of adhesive transparent resin layer of image-receivingsheet having transferred the image formed on the transparentphotosensitive layer of said varnishing film, transferring under heatand pressure, and then peeling off the transparent supporter ofphotosensitive transfer sheet, 5) a step of repeating imagingwiselight-exposure, development, successively transfer onto image-receivingsheet and peeling-off of transparent supporter by the number of colorsrequired, with other photosensitive transfer sheets with photosensitivelayers containing coloring agents different in color tones, similarly tothe step 4) aforementioned, and 6) a step of superposing the transferredsurface of said image-receiving sheet on a final supporter, transferringthe image under heat and pressure, and then peeling off theimage-receiving sheet, the improvements comprising provision oftransparent high-gloss image having been formed on the transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film on the top surface of finalsupporter, together with the adhesive transparent resin layer of saidvarnishing film being peelable off from the transparent supporterthereof and containing transparent matting agent as well.
 2. Thevarnishing film of claim 1, wherein the transparent matting agentcontained in the adhesive transparent resin layer of said varnishingfilm is a transparent pigment.
 3. The varnishing film of claim 1,wherein the transparent matting agent contained in the adhesivetransparent resin layer of said varnishing film is a plastic pigment. 4.The varnishing film of claim 1, wherein the transparent matting agentcontained in the adhesive transparent resin layer of said varnishingfilm is silicon dioxide.
 5. The varnishing film of any of claims 1through 4, wherein the transparent supporter of said varnishing film isa biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate) film.
 6. Thevarnishing film of claim 1, wherein the peelable adhesive transparentresin layer containing transparent matting agent and the transparentphotosensitive layer are layered via a release layer on one side of thetransparent supporter of said varnishing film.
 7. The varnishing film ofclaim 1, wherein the surface gloss of the adhesive transparent resinlayer containing transparent matting agent of said varnishing film isnot higher than 50%.
 8. A method of adjusting the surface gloss ofprepress color proof in the method of adjusting the surface gloss ofprepress color proof to obtain the image with surface gloss adjustedthrough the treatments of:1) a step of forming an image on a transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film with the transparentphotosensitive layer layered via an adhesive transparent resin layer ona transparent supporter through imagingwise light-exposure anddevelopment, 2) a step of superposing the surface of the transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film after said step 1) on thesurface of an adhesive transparent resin layer of image-receiving sheetwith the adhesive transparent resin layer provided on a supporter,transferring the image onto the image-receiving sheet together withadhesive transparent resin layer under heat and pressure, and peelingoff the transparent supporter of varnishing film, 3) a step of forming acolor image on a photosensitive layer by imagingwise exposing to lightand developing a photosensitive transfer sheet with an adhesivetransparent resin layer peelable off from transparent supporter and thephotosensitive layer containing coloring agent layered on othertransparent supporter, 4) a step of superposing the surface ofphotosensitive layer of photosensitive transfer sheet after the step 3)on the surface of adhesive transparent resin layer of image-receivinglayer having transferred the image formed on the transparentphotosensitive layer of said varnishing film, transferring under heatand pressure, and then peeling off the transparent supporter ofphotosensitive transfer sheet, 5) a step of repeating imagingwiselight-exposure, development, successively transfer onto image-receivingsheet and peeling-off of transparent supporter by the number of colorsrequired, with other photosensitive transfer sheets with photosensitivelayers containing coloring agents different in color tones, similarly tothe step 4) aforementioned, and 6) a step of superposing the transferredsurface of said image-receiving sheet on a final supporter, transferringthe image under heat and pressure, and then peeling off theimage-receiving sheet,the improvements comprising provision oftransparent high-gloss image having been formed on the transparentphotosensitive layer of varnishing film on the top surface of finalsupporter, together with the adhesive transparent resin layer of saidvarnishing film being peelable off from the transparent supporterthereof and containing transparent matting agent as well.